Low Oil Caused Dead Engine - Advice needed

mikechap

Howdy,

I haven't been on here much since I got my Z back in 2011. Everything has been going along smoothly with my daily driver. Until last week.

I actually had a 60,000 mile service scheduled at my local shop. I'm currently on 62,048. I had recently started hearing a strange noise when starting it up that sounded like a fan belt running. It would only last a minute or so.

I had no driving issues, saw no oil leaks, there was no smoking, no warning lights... nothing. It drove like it always did.

Then I go to drive home last Thursday and it was just chug-chugging out of the parking lot and the "need service soon" light was on (for the first time). I shut it down and had it towed to my shop the next morning.

To my absolute horror, he told me it had less than a quart of oil! I was (and still am) shocked beyond belief. After looking at a valve replacement/timing job he said there were metal shavings and that it needed a new engine.

He said there was some leaking from the plug, and I was about 4500 miles overdue for an oil change, but like I said, I had never had any issues or warnings to indicate that it was low. Without any other evidence I can't fathom that I lost all that oil without any other mechanical issue going on causing the engine to burn oil at an abnormal rate.

I have been using the same oil tech for the past year or so with no issues. He uses Mobile 1.

I'm pretty devastated and am just looking for some guidance before throwing down $7,000 on a new-to-me engine (16K miles).

I've got a call into the warranty person at my dealership.... is there anything else I can do or another direct Nissan number that I could call?

I really thought I had been taking good care of the Z, I don't push it at all, have been doing regular oil changes, had a 30,000 mile service, am on my 3rd set of tires.... I'm just gutted.

Thanks for any advice.
Mike

SouthArk370Z

You don't mention checking the oil. If you didn't check it often, the blame is on you.

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falconfixer

4500 miles past due on an oil change. Sorry man but it sounds like you are eating a new motor. 7 grand seems a little high tho. Wasn't there a guy on here parting out a wrecked 2011? Maybe he can hook you up.

watson853

4500 past due is a lot considering u should change it every 3000 miles. It's pretty much like u missed two oil changes.


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SouthArk370Z

Unless you were using the cheapest oil you could find, even 10,000 miles shouldn't be enough to crater the engine. It's definitely not good to go that long, but it's not going to kill the engine if you are DDing the car.

Running out of oil is a different story.

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watson853

What do u consider normal oil change intervals? I've got a hunch your changing every 7500 which would mean you put 12,000 miles on that oil. If that is the case what happened to you makes complete sense. I'm very sorry to here about your issues but I wouldn't expect warranty work.


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DEpointfive0

You're a little SOL...

4500 miles over is a LOT... I set my oil change light for 250 miles before its due so I have a week or so to get in for a change...

And $7000? Try eBay... $3k all day...

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falconfixer

Granted we can argue that he isn't all that much over now that I think of it. I believe it was this year Nissan has extended the oil change interval to 5000 miles. Someone else can do that math but what is bad is that he had an oil leak as well. Compounded the problem.

OP don't take it in the *** paying 7 grand for a used engine. Like DE said, ebay that bitch or hit some junkyards.

bvl

OP doesn't state what OCI he is using. If you really went a lot over 7500 mi, then Nissan would be within their rights to deny warranty (asserting you have it, 5/60 is gone, extended could be there).

If you are 4500 mi over a 3K OCI< its 7500 mi, which is Sched 2 interval and I would argue within spec. 1 qt seems off: car should have thrown a low oil light long before then.

Perhaps time for a second diagnosis as well.

Good luck,

- b

MJB

Just because he went 4k miles past an oil change doesn't mean the oil just magically disappeared. It went somewhere. Yes of course its not good to go that long, but oil doesn't evaporate... it will get dirty, break down and lose its viscosity. OP said the tech claims there was only half a quart in the engine. Sounds like bad piston rings to me. Good luck OP with whatever happens. The dealership is probably going to put up a fight with the warranty.

Lessons learned guys... check your oil at least once a week, and there is NO low oil indicator light!!!! Its low oil pressure, and that doesn't indicate your oil level!

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watson853

If he thinks 4500 past due isn't a big deal id bet he's not changing oil every 3000 miles.....


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nomodsjk

That motor has been sold sorry brother. So sorry to hear that. Do you have any crazy ex's who know how to drain the oil on a car?

Arrvaxx

-.- No! Bad!

No modern oil in a modern car needs to be changed every 3000 miles. EVER...except if it is tracked. 4000 or 5000 is plenty.

And synthetics can go 7, 8, or even 12,000 miles between changes.

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watson853

Me and you Arrvaxx will never agree on that. I payed a decent amount for my car and 70 bucks every 3000 miles is a very small price to pay to have peace of mind.


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Davey

If I actually drove 5,000 miles in a year I might go that long on an oil change.

Really if you went 4K over the OCI and never checked the oil... Well I'm not thinking this is the car's fault.